by Reece Dinn
The two boys ran off, heading down the narrow pathway, then took a right down another one, and didn't stop until they were far away.
'So you make trouble for no reason?' said Tenalkz when they'd stopped.
'Had to try,' said Melonaz between pants.
Tenalkz shook his head.
'You right though,' said Melonaz. 'It stupid idea.'
The next moon passed slowly for Beroz. Every day in between the Lial's lessons the two of them would walk together around the village. With each passing day the walk became easier, and combined with his continued exercising he felt his strength returning. By the end of the moon Beroz felt confident enough to walk alone. From then on he went for two walks a day, one with the Lial and one by himself. His wounds were almost healed now, Brubah having a greater effect now that his mind was able to handle its constant use. During his walks Beroz people attempted to talk with him, to his annoyance, but they soon gave up, his one word answers making it difficult for them to begin a conversation. Unfortunately it didn't stop them trying.
As the days passed he longed to be back out in the wilds. Back where the world felt real. Less boring. Where life wasn't routine but a battle for survival. As it should be, in his opinion. Why people live in village? Village life make you weak. All people need to train. Be strong. Fight ludenez. It was ridiculous to think now that he'd felt lonely out in the wild. Being around people was much harder than being away from them. Life had become a boring routine for him, but there was one part of his day that made him feel like himself again. Training.
Beroz was impressed by how hard the young Sehnal trained. He couldn't remember the Lial pushing him so hard when he was as young. The Lial had become even stricter and harsher while he'd been away. Some of the Sehnal struggled, their bodies clearly on the brink of collapse as the Lial forced them to do push up after push up, their arms shaking, their faces creased up and pumping with sweat.
'More,' shouted the Lial as he paced around them.
Then he had them squatting, over and over, then jumping, then running on the spot, before finally stopping. All but one of the Sehnal was panting at the end.
Boy who visit day before. I remember. The boy seemed to have no trouble keeping up with the Lial's training. What was more surprising was that he appeared to be enjoying it. He smiled with satisfaction when the Lial's gaze fell on him, but his face fell when the Lial turned away.
Next the Lial had them fighting. Beroz watched the boy fight, ignoring the others. He seemed far more skilled than the rest. Each one he fought he beat in moments, fighting with a ferocity and intensity that Beroz had rarely seen before. He like animal. Like ludenez. The boy fought like he was fighting to the death, except when he faced a boy with a big nose. Against him the ferocity was gone. He fought hard, and so did the big nosed boy, but it wasn't in the same way. It didn't look like he was deliberately holding back, it was more like he just had no desire to hurt him. From the way the two joked and played with each other in between bouts it was clear they were friends. Fight friend the hardest. Not want to hurt them. I have no friend. Fight hard against all opponents.
From out the corner of his eye he saw the Lial approach. Beroz gestured over to the boy. 'Who that?'
The Lial glanced over to where Beroz had indicated. 'That Melonaz,' said the Lial, almost like it was an accusation.
Melonaz beat away a spear thrust aimed at his head, and slammed his shoulder into his opponent's stomach. The big nosed boy stumbled back and Melonaz slammed the butt of his wooden sword into his forehead, knocking him down.
'He visit furaz one time,' said Beroz.
'He do?' The Lial's expression suggested that he wasn't too surprised.
'Asks if I'll teach him light trick I use on you. I say no.'
The Lial snorted. 'He makes me mad. Boy not listen.'
Melonaz looked over towards them, as if he'd heard them talking about him. For a moment he and Beroz's eyes met, then Melonaz looked away. Beroz continued to watch him, his curiosity piqued.
'He good,' said Beroz. 'Better than some old Sehnal.'
The Lial snorted. 'Some. He know it though. Not listen to me. Does what he wants. Makes me mad.'
'He good in a fight.'
'Yes. Hope so.'
The Lial left him, shouting at the Sehnal to cease fighting, then told them to meditate for awhile. Beroz took the opportunity to mediate as well, carefully lowering himself to the ground. The walk to the training ground had left him tired though, and he quickly fell asleep. He slept until the Lial's shouting roused him.
Towards the end of the session the Lial had the Sehnal practice basic Raiz techniques, willing their Raiz into flames, lightning, or gusts of wind. He made them practice one at a time so he could watch each Sehnal carefully as they tried to perform the technique. Drawing Raiz back into yourself the hardest part. Need learn to sense the tug of your Raiz fast. First time do it, feel like bupbup biting into your mind. Feels weird. Lucky many learn first time. Sehnal die if not learn it.
At midday the Lial dismissed the group. Beroz and the Lial returned to the furaz and ate a small meal of nuts blanched in boiling water, and some cuts of mirac meat. Beroz decided that he would join the Lial for his afternoon session with the older Sehnal.
Their training was much more intense, as Beroz had expected. To his surprise he found that these Sehnal's fighting ability was much higher than he'd anticipated. Lial train them good. What happen in three years? How Sehnal here better than when I train? Their generation just stronger? Mine weak so he easier on us when training? Beroz watched the Sehnal pair off and fight. All the older Sehnal had forged their own weapons from Raiz. One had an axe that glowed blue in the afternoon light. Another had a spear with three points. Two had swords, one sword long and silver, so large it had to be wielded with two hands. The other's sword was short but fat, its blade silver, but glowed green around the edges. One wielded a staff that was even longer than the Lial's, and it glowed orange when he twirled it. There were two more with axes, but they were too far away for Beroz to ascertain their appearance. Sehnal like weapons that glow. Think they look good. Wish I think of it. He thought of Mutumuz's black blade and suddenly wanted to change it, give it a glowing white edge.
Each Sehnal fought with a similar kind of ferocity than that Melonaz boy did, but with more skill and precision. I wrong. Boy not better. It was clear to Beroz's eyes that the Lial was training them to fight like him. Maybe more Sehnal beat Lial when train like this.
The Sehnal's use of Raiz was very skilled as well. They fought as good as any Apochal he'd seen, using Hakah sparingly but effectively, strengthening themselves at the last possible moment. Even Beroz felt he didn't use Hakah as well as they did. Their aim with fire and lightning was scarily good. If it wasn't for the Sehnal being just as nimble at dodging then they all would have been dead by the end of the training session.
Lial need not worry. Village have many good Sehnal to protect it.
Over the next few days Beroz attended almost every training session, morning and night, observing the Sehnal and informing the Lial of anything he thought he should be made aware of. Sehnal who were struggling, or were showing signs of weakness that the Lial had missed.
Beroz quickly grew bored of the young Sehnal, however and after a couple of days only bothered to attend the afternoon training. By then his body felt near healed, save for a few niggling pains. And his hand.
He spent the mornings meditating, exercising, and practising his melee skills, allowing his body to re-adjust to the familiar movements that he'd performed every day since he was a boy, fighting imaginary opponents. Watching the Sehnal train made him want to get back to training quickly. He asked the Lial if he could fight with the older Sehnal. The Lial was reluctant.
'It's not you I worry for. It's my Sehnal.' After more pleading the Lial conceded.
At the next training session he paired him with a Sehnal named Nekolz. The boy was tall with an acne riddled face. He was cocky, but the
attitude quickly vanished when Beroz drew Mutumuz. See me fight Lial. Knows I strong. He smiled to himself. It felt good to be feared.
Nekolz also wielded a sword, a long silver blade that he had to wield with two hands. Beroz'd admired it from afar, and was no less impressed by it now that he was facing it down.
The two came together, hit each other's swords with their own, butted heads, then separated.
'You beat Lial. Not beat me though,' shouted Nekolz, beating his chest. He didn't sound convincing.
Beroz gestured with his scarred hand for him to attack, focusing his Raiz and using Brubah. Not think need to use Hakah. Sehnal fight hard. Not hard enough.
Nekolz screamed and charged, hacking and slashing at him. His swings were powerful, just one of them would have cut him in half with ease, but they were slow, even with the boy clearly using Hakah. Beroz dodged each swing, occasionally parrying one and coming dangerously close to cutting the Sehnal.
To his surprise Nekolz changed tactics and began stabbing at him with the sword, forcing Beroz backwards, making him beat the blade away rather than dodge. Beroz's sword arm quickly tired, despite the Brubah. Each parry made his whole arm shake.
Beroz growled and threw himself at the boy, smashing him to the ground. He threw Mutumuz aside and beat the boy hard on the chest, raining blows down on him. Nekolz dropped his sword and grabbed his arms, but didn't have the strength to stop him fully. Beroz growled and brought his head down hard on the boy's face, then grabbed Nekolz's hands and pinned them to the ground.
Blood dribbled from Nekolz's nose. His teeth were bared, the fight still in him. He struggled to free himself from Beroz's hold, but even with Hakah he couldn't. Beroz went to headbutt him again.
'I give,' shouted Nekolz.
Beroz smirked, released him, and got up off him.
Nekolz wiped the blood from his nose. 'Nukuk,' he spat.
'Hakah make you stronger than a boy. Not stronger than a man,' said Beroz. 'Remember. Train hard. Grow stronger. Strong so can fight ludenez.'
Nekolz picked up his sword and walked away without another word.
Not like him. Ugly lobkak.
Beroz's next opponent was named Waklaz. Beroz laughed with surprise when the boy told him he was Nekolz's cousin.
'Beat him good. He need it,' laughed Waklaz. He was tall and muscular, with chiselled features and sported a large mole on his forehead. The boy wielded a double sided axe that shone sky blue in the light. This will be harder. His axe will break Mutumuz if I not careful.
They came together, hit weapons and butted heads.
Waklaz made ready to swing, the sight making Beroz a little nervous.
Waklaz shot forward and swung up at him. Beroz used Hakah and jumped to the side, barely avoiding the fast moving axe. He made to counter and stab him in the side, but Waklaz recovered fast, twisting out of the way of Mutumuz and slamming the bottom of his axe's shaft into Beroz's chest. He stumbled back from the force of it, the wind knocked out of him. Waklaz raised the axe over his head and brought it down on him. Beroz blocked, using Hakah, but the force of the blow near broke his sword and arm. He cried out, and swung at Waklaz's face with his scarred hand. The boy twisted away from it. He fast. How axe man so fast? It was unusual, and Beroz didn't like it.
Waklaz spun around and swung at Beroz's torso. Beroz caught the axe's head with Mutumuz's edge, but the force of the blow slammed the blade into him. He felt its edge puncture his skin, making him gasp. Waklaz jumped and brought his head down on him, making Beroz growl as he bit his tongue. Nukuk.
Beroz slashed at him, aiming for his head, arms, legs, forcing him further back with each attack, but not hitting him. The boy struck him in the chest with his axe's top and he grunted, doubling over. Waklaz went to kick him in the knee, but Beroz avoided it and took Waklaz's leg out from under him instead. He booted the boy in the head, then stabbed down at his chest. The boy rolled away too quickly however and Mutumuz sank into the snow, leaving Beroz exposed.
Waklaz sprang up and slammed his shoulders into Beroz, falling on top of him as he knocked him over. Beroz roared, used Hakah, and punched the boy hard in the face with his scarred hand, his fist crunching bone where it struck. He headbutted the Sehnal, then threw him off. He lashed out with Mutumuz, but once again Waklaz was too fast for him and he beat Mutumuz away with his axe.
'Lobkak,' cried Beroz, scrambling to his feet. Waklaz was already up and making to swing again. Beroz threw away Mutumuz and, using Hakah, jumped high into the air, avoiding the axe swing, and booted the boy in the face with both feet. Waklaz crashed onto his back, blood squirting out of his nose.
Beroz landed on his feet and grabbed Waklaz's legs. Using Hakah again he swung him around and threw him across the ground. The boy bounced, dropping his axe, before rolling to a stop.
Beroz grabbed Mutumuz and charged at the boy.
Waklaz sprang back to his feet, ready to attack. He panicked when he saw Mutumuz in Beroz's hand, but didn't back down.
They crashed together.
Walkaz was smashed back to the ground. Beroz planted a boot on his chest and rested Mutumuz's point on the boy's throat.
Waklaz yielded.
Beroz breathed a sigh of relief. 'You good. Stronger than I think.' He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. He removed his foot, allowing Waklaz to get up. Beroz gripped him by the shoulder. 'Good fight.'
Waklaz bowed his head. 'Thank you for the fight, Apochal.'
Beroz grunted, butted him lightly on the forehead, and released him. He glanced over at the Lial. The Lial was observing two other Sehnal. Beroz walked over to him, and when he reached his side said, 'Sehnal have skill.'
The Lial nodded. 'He do. Give you good fight. He leave on Cubsoz after attack, I think.'
The two Sehnal the Lial was observing fought furiously, hand to hand, punching, kicking, biting. Neither Sehnal relenting for even a moment, or bothering to block, so intent on beating the other bloody they were forgetting the basics of fighting.
'Need stop this,' grumbled the Lial, heading over to them. He bellowed angrily and the two stopped mid-punch, panting heavily.
'I ready,' said Beroz, clenching his scarred hand.
'Yes?' asked the Lial.
Beroz nodded, then sat down, resting his back and head against the Lial's rock, as it'd always been known as.
The Lial stood over him then turned back to his Sehnal. 'Tonight we do it,' he said.
Beroz grunted, smiling to himself. Not rest one more day.
Just after dusk the Lial and Beroz wandered out onto the snow plain. The evening was red with a tinge of green, Kiz's light creeping over the horizon. Beroz carried a torch too, illuminating the red tinted gloom.
When they were far enough away from the village the Lial said, 'Here.'
Beroz stuck the torch upright in the snow.
'Lose furs. Boots too,' said the Lial.
Beroz undressed, shivering in the chill night air. His torso was scarred all over, the wounds the Lial had inflicted on him still fresh on his skin. He stood naked, unsure exactly what came next.
The Lial planted his staff in the snow. His Lialstone glowed faintly in the torchlight, its purple hue giving the darkness an eerie feel. 'Ready?' he asked.
'Yes.'
The Lial placed his hands on Beroz's chest, their cold making him shiver. Suddenly they burned with intense heat. The heat spread, burning through his whole body.
The Lial's hands glowed red.
Searing pain ripped across Beroz's chest, his skin sizzling. He bit down hard on his lip to stop himself crying out, but he couldn't help hissing as the pain intensified. He looked up at the star filled sky to distract himself. He could feel the heat on his heart, which made it pound so hard he thought it might explode. He cried out, spreading his arms wide and clenching his fists. The smell of burning flesh wafted up from his chest. He growled, breathing heavily, tears stinging his eyes.
The Lial removed his hands from Ber
oz's chest. The heat vanished, replaced by freezing cold which stung almost as much.
A hand shaped burn smoked on each of Beroz's pectorals.
'Mark of an Apochal,' said Lial.
Beroz touched the burns, wincing from the sting. More scars.
'Put your furs back on,' said the Lial.
Beroz happily obliged.
'You'll be a good Apochal. I know it.'
'Will try,' said Beroz, pulling his furs tight around him, relieved to cover himself from the cold again.
They returned to the Lial's furaz in silence. When they'd settled down to rest the Lial asked, 'Think on what you will do?'
'Not lose hand. No stay,' said Beroz with conviction.
The Lial frowned, seemingly disappointed by the decision. 'Go see Ro-Lial at Owoklz?
Beroz shrugged. 'They must know a cure, as you say.'
The Lial thought for a moment. 'Nam-Laftoz Lial might, if Ro-Lial not. Need pass Trial if want go though.'
'That problem. Not ready for Trial.'
'No. No you not.' The Lial stroked the scars on his chin. 'Ask Ro-Lial if can go.' Lial placed his staff on the ground. 'Warn Ro-Lial of horde too.'
Beroz nodded slightly. 'Will do, Lial. What if they not let me go to Nam-Laftoz?'
The Lial shook his head, then leaned in close. 'If scar grows. You see it change. Cut off hand. Promise me?'
'Yes, Lial.'
'Don't let it claim you. Worse than death.'
'I sorry, Lial. Wish could stay. Fight for village.' said Beroz with genuine regret. He'd never felt particularly attached to his Lial, but over the past few moons he'd found he'd grown fond of him.
'Me too,' said the Lial, lying down and rolling onto his side to face Beroz. He wrapped his sleeping fur tight around himself, not even bothering to remove his clothing first. He closed his eyes and within moments he was asleep.
Beroz lay back and gazed up at the starry sky out of the top of the furaz. His scarred hand throbbed again. Die.
At first light Beroz raided the village sturaz, filling a sack with food, mainly cured vomenic fillets, and threw in a skin of nibec for good measure. He hadn't slept much, his mind racing too much with thoughts of the path that lay before him. Every time he'd finally began to settle down that one word had whispered in his mind, setting his thoughts racing again.
